Different Degrees of Sulfated Laminaria Polysaccharides Recovered Damaged HK-2 Cells and Inhibited Adhesion of Nano-COM and Nano-COD Crystals.

Purpose: The crystal adhesion caused by the damage of renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) is the key to the formation of kidney stones. However, no effective preventive drug has been found. This study aims to explore the recovery effects of four Laminaria polysaccharides (SLPs) with different sulfate (-OSO3-) contents on damaged HK-2 cells and the difference in the adhesion of damaged cells to nanometer calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) and calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) before and after recovery. Methods: Sodium oxalate (2.6 mmol/L) was used to damage HK-2 cells to establish a damaged model. SLPs (LP0, SLP1, SLP2, and SLP3) with -OSO3- contents of 0.73%, 15.1%, 22.8%, and 31.3%, respectively, were used to restore the damaged cells, and the effects of SLPs on the adhesion of COM and COD, with a size of about 100 nm before and after recovery, were measured. Results: The following results were observed after SLPs recovered the damaged HK-2 cells: increased cell viability, restored cell morphology, decreased reactive oxygen levels, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, decreased phosphatidylserine eversion ratio, increased cell migration ability, reduced expression of annexin A1, transmembrane protein, and heat shock protein 90 on the cell surface, and reduced adhesion amount of cells to COM and COD. Under the same conditions, the adhesion ability of cells to COD crystals was weaker than that to COM crystals. Conclusions: As the sulfate content in SLPs increases, the ability of SLPs to recover damaged HK-2 cells and inhibit crystal adhesion increases. SLP3 with high -OSO3- content may be a potential drug to prevent kidney stones.

Endoscopic features help to identify the histopathological patterns of colorectal polyps in Cronkhite-Canada syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Cronkhite-Canada syndrome (CCS) is a rare nonhereditary gastrointestinal hamartomatous polyposis syndrome with a high risk of colorectal cancerogenesis. It is challenging to discriminate adenomas from nonneoplastic colorectal polyps macroscopically. This study aimed to explore the endoscopic features of different histopathological patterns of colorectal polyps in CCS. METHODS: Sixty-seven lesions from 23 CCS patients were prospectively biopsied or resected during the colonoscopic examination for histopathological analysis. The Fisher's exact test and multivariate logistical analysis were conducted to reveal the predictive endoscopic features of CCS polyps with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) and adenomas. RESULTS: There were seven (10.4%) adenomas, 20 (29.9%) CCS-LGD, and 40 (59.7%) nonneoplastic CCS polyps. Polyps were large (>20 mm) in none of the adenomas, 30.0% of CCS-LGD polyps, and 2.5% of nonneoplastic CCS polyps (P < 0.001). The color of the polyps was whitish for 71.4% of adenomas, 10.0% of CCS-LGD polyps, and 15.0% of nonneoplastic CCS polyps (P = 0.004). Pedunculated polyps were detected in 42.9% of adenomas, 45.0% of CCS-LGD polyps, and 5.0% of nonneoplastic CCS polyps (P < 0.001). The proportions of types IV and VI in the Kudo classification were 42.9%, 95.0%, and 35.0% in adenomatous, CCS-LGD, and nonneoplastic CCS polyps, respectively (P = 0.002). The endoscopic activity was in remission for 71.4% of adenomas, 5.0% of CCS-LGD polyps, and 10.0% of nonneoplastic CCS polyps (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic features, including the size, color, sessility, Kudo's pit pattern classification of polyps, and endoscopic activity, help identify the histopathological patterns of colorectal polyps in CCS.

Ultrasonographic findings in cows with left displacement of abomasum, before and after reposition surgery.

BACKGROUND: The natural incidence of left displacement of abomasum (LDA) in dairy cows was high. The diagnosis of LDA usually relies on characteristic physical exam findings but that transabdominal ultrasound is a useful technique that has been applied to the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases of dairy cows in equivocal cases. METHODS: Forty dairy cows with LDA were clinically and ultrasonographically examined to determine the position and the echogenic property of the abomasum. The cows were examined ultrasonographically on the left side, from the 9th intercostal space (ICS) to the 12th ICS as well as the ventral left abdomen before and after reposition surgery. RESULTS: The vital signs were within normal range in most of the cows and the 'pinging' were clearly heard in 37 cows. The abomasal gas cap was visualized from the 9th to 12th ICS in 37 cows and characterized by reverberation artifacts. The abomasal ingesta appeared as homogeneous hypoechoic fluid with scattered hyperechoic foci and were mainly visible in the median region and ventral region of the 9th to 11th ICS in 35 cows. The pyloric canal was detected from the ventral left abdomen wall in 30 cows and appeared as a loop with hypoechogenic wall and echogenic luminal contents in cross section. CONCLUSION: These typical ultrasonograms, including reverberation artifacts, homogenous hypoechoic structures, are important diagnostic feature in ultrasonography of LDA. Furthermore, the circular acoustic image structure of the pyloric canal is an important characteristic of LDA, so it can be used as an important diagnostic basis of LDA.